, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Economy
To date, not including the recently announced support, the Welsh Government has provided the tourism and hospitality industry with nearly £56 million in support through the economic resilience fund, and emergency funding will, of course, now be available…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Economy
We have real challenges in this area, as Joyce Watson highlights. We have a reduction of about a quarter to a third of activity through our ports. Now, that's not just an issue in Holyhead; it's certainly a big issue for the trade with the island of Ireland…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Economy
I should start by saying that, as we don't have a firm proposal, we don't have a proposal to work with. We have written to the UK Government, the previous Minister has written, and myself and the finance Minister will be writing again, ahead of our meeting…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Economy
I've had a range of discussions on free ports with ministerial colleagues, including the Minister for Climate Change. However, no offer has been presented to the Welsh Government for a Welsh free port by the UK Government. Welsh Ministers have, though…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Economy
Well, longer term choices will need to be subject to our budget considerations, but I'm proud that this Government has taken a serious view on investing in the future of towns—and retail is an important part of a sense of place for people who live in those…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Economy
Yes. In fact, in my initial response, I should have been clear that, when I talk about working with them, the retail sector, I do mean businesses and trade unions. USDAW have been very constructive in their retail recovery plan that they've proposed, and I'm…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Economy
Thank you. We fully recognise the COVID pandemic has had a tremendous impact on the retail sector. That's why we're working closely with them to develop a retail strategy, which will outline our priorities and a shared vision for the future of the sector.
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Economy
We're actually looking at digital innovation in manufacturing. We've already created a hub in Wales that we're supporting as well, so we're looking at how this works for different businesses in different sectors. It's also part of the work that we're looking…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Economy
I think that's the important point that the Member makes at the end, because, when deployed responsibly, technology can provide workers with greater flexibility and enable them to be more productive, as many businesses have found during the pandemic. That…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Economy
Thank you for the question. Our economic and reconstruction mission builds on the 2019 findings from Professor Phillip Brown’s review, with a focus on accelerating industrial transformation by embracing new and disruptive technologies, such as artificial…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Economy
Obviously, if the UK Government don't take proper account of what will happen next with the pandemic that we all want to see come to an end, then it could have significant public health and economic consequences, and there's plenty of commentary about that…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Economy
Our position on labour market intelligence and relationships that we have not just with the broader surveys but from business sectors themselves is one that we continue to look at, as we discuss the further path to opening up parts of our economy, as…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Economy
I think the challenge in giving an honest answer to that question is that we don't know all of the issues around that, and we've just got to be honest about this. We know that we're in the midst of a significant spike in coronavirus infections. We know that…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Economy
I think there are a couple of points to make in response. The first is, of course, that we have a much more generous offer to support businesses here in Wales, including the tourism sector, than over the border, and not just the general support that we've…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Economy
Yes, I recognise the reality that active travel opens up new opportunities to promote tourism in many parts of Wales, and the initiative that the Member identifies is a good example of that potential. I'm not sure I can give him a cast iron guarantee to…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Economy
Denbighshire, and the whole of north Wales, feature prominently in Visit Wales’s promotional activities. We will continue to promote Denbighshire’s significant tourist offer, both on the coast and in the countryside, including, of course, signature events…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Economy
Well, it's something that my predecessor, Ken Skates, has recognised, about the importance of north-east Wales and north-west England, and some common economic interests. And we do think the Mersey Dee Alliance is helping to make the case for that. I have met…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Economy
Yes, and, of course, in the manifesto that we stood on, we talked about having a greener, fairer and more prosperous Wales. And I have met a range of the coming generations of apprentices and engineers during my visits both to Airbus and Toyota, and I look…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Economy
Thank you. We have made unprecedented levels of funding available to support Welsh businesses through the pandemic. Flintshire businesses have received £69.7 million in grant support since April 2020, which is in addition to our extensive support provided by…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Economy: The Future of the Steel Industry
I'm happy to give the Member the assurance that we continue to stay as engaged as we could and should be with the company in discussions about their future. There are about 180 jobs between the two sites. Those jobs are valuable, and we want to be able to…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Economy: The Future of the Steel Industry
Well, this is really a point about how we continue to invest in the workforce. And this is an area where the job that you'd have done in the steel industry 20 years ago isn't necessarily the job that you're doing today and won't be the job that you do in 20…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Economy: The Future of the Steel Industry
I think those are entirely fair challenges, and I was just looking at the Deputy Minister for Social Care when talking about the energy demands from these companies—because, of course, as Cardiff Members will know, a huge amount of the demand that goes into…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Economy: The Future of the Steel Industry
Well, these are exactly issues that I have had regular conversations with not just David Rees about in previous Senedd terms, but at the start of this one and indeed in my conversations with Community, who are the lead steel union on the Steel Council…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Economy: The Future of the Steel Industry
I think there are two questions in there, Llywydd, as well as the invite. The question about the invite: in principle, yes, and I'll happily work with you to look to find an appropriate opportunity to come to Shotton. I think the other question is about how…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Economy: The Future of the Steel Industry
Thank you for the questions. I'll deal with R&D not just in the steel sector but more generally, and this is one of the challenges overall for our economic future, because when it comes to the distribution of innovation and R&D funding, Wales doesn't…
